Tim Gerend is the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Northwestern Mutual, one of America’s largest life insurance and financial services companies. Gerend became CEO on January 1, 2025, succeeding John Schlifske, who retired after 14 years leading the company. A Notre Dame law school graduate who joined Northwestern Mutual as an attorney in 2002, Gerend rose through the ranks over two decades to lead a company managing more than $780 billion in total assets and delivering record $41 billion in revenue in 2025.
Read on to discover Northwestern Mutual CEO email address, Tim Gerend net worth in 2026, salary and compensation, career history, education, and more.
Tim Gerend – Quick Facts
| Tim Gerend — Key Information | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Timothy J. “Tim” Gerend |
| Position | Chairman, President & CEO |
| Company | Northwestern Mutual |
| Age | ~53–54 (born c. 1972) |
| Education | B.S. Economics, Butler University; J.D. University of Notre Dame Law School |
| Total Compensation | Not publicly disclosed (mutual company) |
| CEO Since | January 1, 2025 |
| Chairman Since | February 1, 2025 |
| Headquarters | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| [email protected] | |
Career Highlights
- 22+ years at Northwestern Mutual – Joined as an attorney in 2002, rose through law, compliance, field compensation, and distribution leadership
- EVP & Chief Distribution Officer (2018–2024) – Oversaw 20,000+ financial advisors, field force strategy, marketing, and strategic communications
- CEO, January 2025 – Named as John Schlifske’s successor; became Chairman of the Board of Trustees February 1, 2025
- Record-setting first year – Under his leadership in 2025, Northwestern Mutual achieved record $41+ billion in revenue, record $10.1 billion operating gain, and record $42+ billion surplus
- Record dividend declared – $9.2 billion policyholder dividend for 2026, the largest increase in company history
- Wisconsin’s Most Influential – Named among Wisconsin’s 275 Most Influential Business Leaders by BizTimes
Tim Gerend Career Timeline
| Period | Role | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-2002 | Associate, Commercial Litigation | Seyfarth Shaw, Chicago |
| 2002 | Attorney (joined company) | Northwestern Mutual |
| 2002–2018 | Leadership roles in Law, Compliance, Field Compensation & Planning, Campus Planning | Northwestern Mutual |
| 2018–2024 | EVP & Chief Distribution Officer | Northwestern Mutual |
| Jan 1, 2025–Present | President & CEO | Northwestern Mutual |
| Feb 1, 2025–Present | Chairman, Board of Trustees | Northwestern Mutual |
Tim Gerend Net Worth & Salary
As CEO of Northwestern Mutual — a mutual company owned by its policyholders, not publicly traded — Tim Gerend’s exact compensation is not publicly disclosed in the same way as public company CEOs. Northwestern Mutual does not file proxy statements with the SEC, so detailed executive pay breakdowns are unavailable.
His predecessor, John Schlifske, was estimated to earn approximately $13 million annually during his tenure as CEO. As the new CEO of a company with over $41 billion in annual revenue and $780+ billion in assets under management, Gerend’s compensation is expected to be in a similar range.
Northwestern Mutual CEO Estimated Compensation
| Component | Estimated Range |
|---|---|
| Base Salary | Not publicly disclosed |
| Annual Bonus | Not publicly disclosed |
| Total Compensation (estimated) | ~$10–15 Million |
| Predecessor’s Compensation | ~$13 Million (John Schlifske) |
Why isn’t compensation disclosed? Northwestern Mutual is a mutual company, meaning it is owned by its policyholders rather than public shareholders. Unlike publicly traded companies that must disclose executive compensation in SEC proxy statements, mutual companies have no such regulatory requirement.
Northwestern Mutual Financial Summary
Northwestern Mutual posted record-setting financial results in 2025, Tim Gerend’s first full year as CEO. The company surpassed $40 billion in revenue for the first time and achieved all-time highs in operating gain and total surplus.
| Metric | FY2025 | FY2024 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $41.2B | $38.1B | ▲ +8.1% |
| Premium Revenue | $24.7B | $23.3B | ▲ +5.9% |
| Net Investment Income | $15.5B | $13.8B | ▲ +12.1% |
| Operating Gain | $10.1B | $8.8B | ▲ +14.8% |
| Total Surplus | $42B+ | $40B+ | ▲ +$2B |
| Total Assets (General Account) | $335B+ | $378B | — |
| Total Assets Under Management | $780B+ | — | — |
| Policyholder Dividend (2026) | $9.2B | $8.3B | ▲ +11% |
| Life Insurance in Force | ~$2.5T | — | — |
Record Year: In 2025, Northwestern Mutual crossed $40 billion in revenue for the first time, delivered a record $10.1 billion operating gain, grew surplus past $42 billion, and declared a record $9.2 billion dividend for policyholders — the largest three-year increase in company history.
Tim Gerend Education & Early Life
Tim Gerend earned a B.S. in Economics from Butler University in Indianapolis, where he attended on a full academic scholarship and played on the varsity golf team. He then earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Notre Dame Law School.
After law school, Gerend began his legal career as an associate in the Commercial Litigation Practice Group at Seyfarth Shaw, a major law firm in Chicago. In 2002, he joined Northwestern Mutual as an attorney, beginning a career that would span more than two decades and lead him to the company’s top leadership position.
Education Summary
| University | Degree | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Butler University, Indianapolis | B.S. in Economics | Full academic scholarship; varsity golf team |
| University of Notre Dame Law School | Juris Doctor (J.D.) | — |
Tim Gerend Personal Life
Tim Gerend is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Northwestern Mutual is headquartered. He has four children, three of whom live in Madison, Wisconsin. While Gerend keeps his personal life private, he has shared that he enjoys visiting his children in Madison, spending time in Wisconsin’s North Woods, attending events at Lambeau Field, and walking along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Gerend is known for his people-first leadership style, emphasizing relationships as a core business advantage. He has spoken publicly about the importance of human connection in financial planning and the role advisors play in helping families build long-term financial security.
Board Memberships & Community Involvement
- Chairman, Board of Trustees – Northwestern Mutual (since February 2025)
- Board Member – American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI)
- Board Member – Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC)
- Board Member – Milwaukee College Prep
- Wisconsin 275 Most Influential – Named by BizTimes Milwaukee
How to Contact Tim Gerend
To contact Tim Gerend, CEO of Northwestern Mutual, try writing to [email protected]. Northwestern Mutual’s corporate headquarters is located at 720 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202. You can also visit the company website at northwesternmutual.com.
| Tim Gerend — Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Email Address | [email protected] |
| Corporate HQ | 720 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202 |
| Company Website | northwesternmutual.com |
| Tim Gerend on LinkedIn | |
| Press Inquiries | Northwestern Mutual Newsroom |
About Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual is an American financial services mutual organization headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded in 1857, it is one of the largest life insurance companies in the United States, providing life insurance, disability income insurance, long-term care insurance, annuities, and investment products and services.
As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual is owned by its policyholders rather than public shareholders. The company has paid dividends to policyholders every year since 1872 — close to $170 billion in total. It holds the highest financial strength ratings awarded by all four major rating agencies for the 34th consecutive year.
Northwestern Mutual at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1857 |
| Headquarters | Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Type | Mutual Company (policyholder-owned) |
| Revenue (2025) | $41.2 billion |
| Total AUM | $780+ billion |
| Financial Advisors | 8,000+ |
| Total Employees | 11,500+ |
| Life Insurance in Force | ~$2.5 trillion |
| CEO | Tim Gerend (since January 2025) |
Tim Gerend Fun Fact
Tim Gerend started at Northwestern Mutual as a lawyer in 2002 — one of the most unusual paths to becoming CEO of a major insurance and financial services company. Rather than coming from an actuarial, investment, or sales background, he transitioned from commercial litigation to business leadership, eventually overseeing the company’s entire distribution network of 20,000+ financial advisors and field representatives before being named CEO.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the CEO of Northwestern Mutual?
Tim Gerend is the Chairman, President, and CEO of Northwestern Mutual. He assumed the CEO role on January 1, 2025, and became Chairman of the Board of Trustees on February 1, 2025, succeeding John Schlifske who retired after 14 years as CEO.
What is Tim Gerend’s salary?
Tim Gerend’s exact compensation is not publicly disclosed because Northwestern Mutual is a mutual company, not publicly traded. His predecessor John Schlifske’s compensation was estimated at approximately $13 million annually. As CEO of a company with $41+ billion in revenue, Gerend’s compensation is expected to be in a similar range.
What is Tim Gerend’s email address?
Tim Gerend’s email address is [email protected]. Northwestern Mutual headquarters is at 720 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202.
Is Northwestern Mutual publicly traded?
No. Northwestern Mutual is a mutual company owned by its policyholders, not public shareholders. It does not trade on any stock exchange and is not required to file SEC proxy statements or public compensation disclosures.
What is Tim Gerend’s background?
Gerend is a Butler University economics graduate and Notre Dame Law School J.D. who joined Northwestern Mutual as an attorney in 2002. Over 22+ years, he rose through law, compliance, field compensation, and distribution leadership to become CEO.
How large is Northwestern Mutual?
Northwestern Mutual manages more than $780 billion in total assets, reported record $41.2 billion in revenue in 2025, has over 8,000 financial advisors and 11,500 employees, and holds nearly $2.5 trillion in life insurance in force.
Article last updated: March 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including official company press releases, corporate websites, and reputable news outlets. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Net worth and compensation figures are estimates and may vary by source.